Bunjiwe Mkwananzi
Danisa Masuku Court Reporter
A MAN who was sentenced to four years in jail for stoning and throttling a grandmother had his sentence reduced to two years after his lawyer successfully appealed against the sentence, stating that it was too harsh.
The offender’s lawyer, Ms Bandile Mpofu, appeared for an appeal against sentence before Bulawayo High Court Judges Justice Munamato Mutevedzi and Justice Bongani Ndlovu.
The lawyer argued that the offender did not benefit from the offence and also stated that the sentence he was slapped with was too harsh.
The offender feels the lower court magistrate was too harsh on him.
“The offender pleaded guilty to the robbery charge and was slapped with a harsh sentence. At law, if the offender pleads guilty to the charge the courts are encouraged to be lenient.
“But in this case the magistrate was too harsh and the sentence was too severe. I appeal for the sentence to be reduced,” she argued.
The lawyer further told the court that the severe sentence plunged the offender into shock.
At the conclusion of the hearing, Justice Mutevedzi highlighted that the conviction stands and said:
“The offender throttled and stoned an elderly grandmother and that cannot be condoned.
“However, noting that the offender did not benefit from the offence and showed remorse as he pleaded guilty, the four-year jail term is reduced to two years,” said Justice Mutevedzi.
Chief public prosecutor, Mr Kudakwashe Jaravaza, told the court that the offender attacked a 63-year-old woman and robbed her of her handbag.
“The complainant closed her shop at Stanhope Business Centre and started walking home carrying her handbag. Along a gravel road at Stanhope Village, the offender confronted the complainant, demanded cash and ordered her to surrender her handbag. When she refused, he wrestled with her,” the court heard.
During the struggle, the offender struck the complainant twice on the head with a stone, causing her to fall unconscious at the scene. He robbed the complainant of US$139 and the stolen money is listed on ZRP Form 162 and fled, leaving her lying unconscious.
The court heard that on 29 June 2026, villagers and a member of the Neighbourhood Watch Committee attended the scene.
They observed shoe and foot impressions, which they followed to the offender’s homestead at Lonsdale Village 4, Nyamandlovu. He was arrested and the matter was reported to police.
